Civil Protection Orders in Hamilton County

How do I get a civil protection order in Hamilton County, Ohio?

File a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D) at the Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations, 800 Broadway, Cincinnati — or a Dating Violence CPO (Form 10.01-P) if you and the respondent are or were in a dating relationship. There is no filing fee. The court reviews your petition the same day and can grant an ex parte order the first week. Service is then completed and a full hearing is set around week four (Track H, R.C. 3113.31). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Where to File: Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Hamilton County Juvenile Court
800 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 946-9431
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Civil Protection Orders is the right path if…

• A family or household member (or dating partner) has harmed or threatened you.
• You need the court to order no contact and to stay away.
• You can describe specific recent incidents of violence or threats.
• You want protection that can include temporary custody and support terms.

Filing Fees

Civil protection order: no filing fee · Track H schedule under R.C. 3113.31 — ex parte order week 1, service week 2, full hearing ~week 4 · Call 911 in an emergency

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Civil Protection Orders in Hamilton County

1. Get to safety and call 911 if needed. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For advocacy and a crisis hotline, contact Women Helping Women in Hamilton County.
2. Complete the petition. Use Form 10.01-D for a family/household member or Form 10.01-P for a dating partner. Describe specific recent incidents of violence or threats; add Form 10.01-F if children are involved.
3. File at the Court of Domestic Relations. File at 800 Broadway, Cincinnati. There is no filing fee. The court reviews your petition the same day and may grant an ex parte order.
4. Attend the full hearing. Service is completed and the full hearing is set around week four. Bring evidence and witnesses; the judge can issue a protection order lasting up to five years with custody and support terms.

Hamilton County Practice Notes

• Track H moves on a four-week schedule. Hamilton handles CPOs on Track H: an ex parte order can issue the first week, service is completed by week two, and the full hearing where both sides are heard is set around week four. The ex parte order protects you in the meantime.
• A CPO is separate from criminal charges. A civil protection order is a civil remedy you control — it is independent of any criminal domestic-violence case the prosecutor may bring. You can have both. Resources like Women Helping Women offer advocacy and a crisis hotline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a civil protection order in Hamilton County?

File a Petition for a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (Form 10.01-D), or a Dating Violence CPO (Form 10.01-P), at the Court of Domestic Relations. There is no filing fee for a CPO. Hamilton handles these on Track H under R.C. 3113.31: a judge can grant an ex parte order the first week, service is completed, and a full hearing is held around week four. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

How long does a Hamilton County family-law case take?

An agreed dissolution can finish in about 30–90 days once both spouses sign. A contested divorce typically runs 6–18 months depending on issues and discovery. A domestic-violence civil protection order (Track H) moves on a four-week schedule — an ex parte order the first week and a full hearing around week four. Juvenile custody cases usually involve a pretrial first, then a merit hearing if the case does not settle.

How much does it cost to file a family-law case in Hamilton County?

At the Court of Domestic Relations: a divorce or dissolution deposit is $325 without children and $375 with children; establishing custody or support for married parents whose case is not part of a divorce (Section 10) is $350; and post-decree motions are $125. In the Juvenile Court, custody runs $200 for a new case or $150 for an existing one, child support is $100, and paternity is $115. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk before filing.

What are the residency requirements to file in Hamilton County?

For a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment, you or your spouse must have been an Ohio resident for at least 6 months and a Hamilton County resident for at least 90 days before filing at the Court of Domestic Relations, 800 Broadway, Cincinnati. For never-married parents filing in the Juvenile Court, Ohio must be the children's 'home state' under the UCCJEA — generally, they've lived in Ohio for the last 6 months.

Free Local Resources in Hamilton County

• Hamilton County Domestic Relations Self-Help Resources. Complete listing of all Domestic Relations forms, dissolution merit instructions (Form 9.0), the decree checklist, and the Accept/Reject/Resubmit e-filing guidance at hamiltoncountyohio.gov.
• Hamilton County Clerk of Courts E-Filing. Self-represented and represented parties can e-file Domestic Relations cases at efiling.hamiltoncountycourts.org. Pro se registration is available; credit cards accepted with a convenience fee. Help line (513) 946-5612.
• Hamilton County Job & Family Services — Child Support (CSEA). Hamilton County's IV-D child-support agency. Opens cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. File the IV-D Application (HC7076) when establishing or modifying support.
• Hamilton County Juvenile Court Help Center. A partnership with the UC College of Law offering low-income residents free education and limited legal advice on custody, parenting time, companionship, and support in Juvenile Court. 800 Broadway, 1st Floor; (513) 946-9440.
• Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. Free civil legal aid for low-income Hamilton County families, including help with custody, support, and domestic-violence protection orders.

Other Family-Law Topics in Hamilton County

• Hamilton County Divorce — Full filing guide for contested divorce in Hamilton DR.
• Hamilton County Dissolution — Both-parties-agree track with the Hamilton form system.
• Hamilton County Custody — Allocation of parental rights for married and never-married parents.
• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody works at a high level.

Related to your protection orders case

• Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
• Divorce & Dissolution — End your marriage through a contested divorce or an amicable dissolution.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.

Keep exploring

• Ohio Civil Protection Orders guide — Statewide overview of civil protection orders in Ohio.
• Cincinnati family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Cincinnati metro.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Family Law Attorney at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.